Rosin modification



Patented July 10,1945 f I UNITED STATE s rATsNToFFlcE Anosrrz uonmcs'rxoa Iszl uer, South range, N. J., aignor to-Bidbo Laboratories, Inc., Paterson, N.

ration of New Jersey No Drawing.

General field of invention and statement 'of objects This invention relates to treatment of rosin, and especially to treatment with certain modifying agents promoting deca-rboxylation and/or softening or liquefaction of rosin. The present application is a continuation in-part of my copending application Serial No. 318,650, filed February 12, 1940 (now Patent No. 2,298,270) v As is known, gum or wood vrosins contain mixturesof rosin acids, known today as abietic acid,

pyro-abietic acidA and d-pimaric acid amongst others. Such rosins commonly have an acid value of from about 145 to 185, usually from about 160 to about 168, and in their natural state they are i A mon examples occur in the coatings industry, i. e.,

use of rosin derivatives in paints, varnishes and the like.

In its natural state, however, rosin isnot Well suited to many commercial purposes for which it is potentially a valuable raw material.

vThe primary object of the present is to modify various physical properties of rosin,

whereby to produce modied rosin products which are better adapted to many uses for which rosin or rosin derivatives are now employed. In addiinvention Y tion, the modications brought about in accordance with the present invention make it possible and advantageous to use the modied rosin products for many purposes for Iwhich rosin in its naturaly state and also 'various derivatives. thereof are not well suited. f

To illustrate, reference is made to coating compositions, such as varnishes. In its natural state, osin is a brittle material andv therefore yields a brittle lm when employed alone as varnish solids. Thus, rosin in its natural state does `not have iilm forming characteristics such that it may satisfactorily be .employed alone as vehicle solids in a coating composition. According to this invention modiilcations vrosin so as to secure a rosinproduct having drying or nlm forming characteristics which are well .Laserpo- Application October 12, 1942,V Serial No. 461.793

' icnim. (ci. 26o-1oz) are brought about in the suited to the coating composition industry, thereby even making possible' .employment of the modliied rosin products alone as vehicle solids in varnishes and the like. U'sualIy, however, at least some drying orvv semi-drying oil is advantageously used with the modified products.

Because of the improved properties of the moditied rosin products, suchvv products may be employed as a replacement ingredient, in substan'- tial proportions, for linseed or other 'drying or semi-drying oils in paints and other coating and plastic compositions.

For certain special purposes in the soap and paper sizing industries, the modied rosin products of this invention may also be of advantage,

notwithstanding the fact that the modified products have a reduced acid value. One of th" most important modiiications brought about bythe process of the invention is the decarboxylation and/or softening or liquefyin g of the rosin, i. e.; at least some reduction of brittleness 'or in melting point, or both. In addition, the process'of the invention is notable in its eil'ect on the acid value, the invention providing for reduction in acid value, as will further appear.

In referring to changes ci this type and in making comparisons of the modified products with products not treated with modifying agents, it is to be understood that the statements regarding changes and comparisons are always made on the basis of a relation between the product treated with a modifying agent and a product treated in exactly the same manner (heating, etc.) but without a modifying agent. The latter is often herein referred to as a blank or control experiment.

According to the invention, by appropriate conand by appropriate trol of treatment conditio selection of materials, the degree of decarboxylation and/or softening or liquefaction and also theacid value may lie-regulated to meet various different requirements. For instance, according to the invention, it is possible to soften the rosin,

or to lower the acid value, or both.

Although the invention is not limited thereto, it is sometimes of importance and advantage to subject the rosin to treatment for a time and character of the resin from its natural hard and brittle condition to aconsistenoy approximating the so-called cold ilow, i.l e., a consistency ac-` cording to which the material will gradually iloyv at normal room'temperatures, so that if a blob of 'the modified rosin is placed on a. ilat surface, it

linseedoil.

u 3,880,141 under-'conditionssuchactochangethtephysical My preferred range of liquefacticn extends from u about the consistency of a viscous oil to about the cold ilow consistency above mentioned, althrpugh it-is to.be understood 'that a greateror a lesser degree of liquefaction is also contem plated.

` The modification process I The process of Atheinvention involves heating the rosin 'in the presence of a modifying agent of the type mentioned hereinafter, the duration loi heating, temperature and other treatment conditionsQas more fully explained herebelow, being controlled in accordance with the extent and type of modication desired.

In general, modifying agents employed in accordance with this invention. and'also in accordance with certain of my copending applications.

1 identifledhereinafter, are polar compounds, The f present application is particularly directed to the o-Dichlorobenaene p-Dichl Trichlorobenzene Naphthalene tetrachloride Naphthalene trichlorlde Naphthalene monochloride` Naphthalene hexachlorlde Chloral hydrate Iodoform -Pinene hydrochloride 4chlorooanisidine p-Nitrc-cmro-benm Triphenyl chloro-methane Benzyl chloride i?fe'nzoxvrl chloride Acetyl chloride Mono-chloroacetic'acid Trichloroacetic acid 2chloroanthraquinone l 2,2,3-trichlorobutyric acid A Pentachloropentane Tetrachloro-resorcinol vb-Chloroanthraquinone Tetnabromouorescein u It will be noted that some oi'` theseare aromatic and some aliphatic.

Some of the inorganicsalts` of organic bases also have the important characteristics of the class yof ltreating agents .herein claimed. Ex-

amples are as follows:

' Diphenylamine hydrochloride' Diphenylamine hydrobromide rn-Nitroaniline hydrochloride Trchloroaniline hydrochloride Aniline hydrochloride f use of organic halogen compounds, as modifying agents for rosin. -The compounds of the class just mentioned may be considered as two-radical type compounds. by which I mean compounds having within the molecule an acidic inorganic y halogen-containing residue, and an organic residue, the inorganic residue being capable. upon the addition of hydrogen, of yielding a halogencontaining acid. Conditions capable of bringing about this change may be present during 'the With reference to the yielding of ayhalogen- 'containing acid, a mav be mentioned that a1- though I believe that that reaction takes place during the treatment oi the rosin, in some cases the reaction may not occur to any considerable extent. Nevertheless, the treating agents here-v in contemplated are eilectiveA sn long as` thev have the capability of yielding the corresponding halogen-containing acid, upon the addition,

In treating with the agents herein con-templated, precautions should be taken to prevent excessive loss of the reagent before ample opportunity has been given for the rosin to absorb it. This may be accomplished by employment of a reilux condenser or in any other suitable way.

In the modifying agents of the group herein.

claimed, good results are secured where the inorganic residue contains chlorine, bromine or iodine, yielding, upon the addition of hydrogen, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid or hydriodic acid.K

The following specic examples are illustrative of this class of treating agents: I

Diphenylamine trichloracetate With agents of this group the acid may be yielded merely by application of heat.l

Other compounds, containing a nitro-subl hstituent, in addition to the halogen, are as iollows:

. Certain sulphonic acids'and sulphonylchlorides alsohave the importantcharacteristics of the class of treating ,agents herein claimed. For examplet Y 2 5 dichlorobenzene sulphonic acid From the foregomga win be seentnat certain treating agents in the class herein claimed may bev relatively complexv compounds incorporating, in 'addition to the halogen-containing residue,

other residues such, for instance, as a sulphurcontaining residue capable oiA yielding a sulphur-containing acid upon addition of hydrogen or OH groups, or `a nitrogen-containing residue capableof yielding a nitrogen-containing acid 1 upon addition of hydrogen or OH groups. In such cases, the treating agent partakes somewhat of the characteristics of the sulphuror nitrogen, as lwell as of the' halogen-containing acid.- v l In this connection it is pointed out that in copending application Serial No. 461,794 illed concurrently herewith, I have rdisclosed Aand claimed other two-radial type treating agents having within the' molecule a nitrogen-containing residue. .In certain instances, therefore, some o1' the treating agents herein referred to manifest not only the distinctive characteristics of the group claimed herein, but also characteristics of the groupclaimcd in said copending application.

'Incarryingouttheprocesatherosinisheated' between about 100- C.` and about 350 C., do-

pending upon the agent selected and the degree and nature of modification desired. Most of the organic halogen compounds require at least 200 C. and many of them should be heated above about 250 C. in order to secure appreciable modification of the properties of the rosin.

Anywhere from a trace. for instance, from .01% or .5% up to about 30% by weight of the agent is employed, and I have found a particularly advantageous range with most agents to be from about 2% to about 10%, although many of them are effective between about .5% and 5%.

Thorough dispersion of the modifying agent In considering the nature of the modifications. itistobenotedthat,whilesomesmalllossin weight may occur by volatilization (usually not more than about -20%), no appreciable frac-'- tional or destructive ldistillation takes place. Withappropriate precautions to avoid distillation the process can usually be carried out without loss of more than 5% or 10%, such small loss -as does occur usually comprising water, CO1, etc., at least in major part, As a precaution, the temvperature should be kept below the boiling ordistillation point of the main reaction product, under the applied reaction conditions of the process.

By vthis precaution, rdestructive distillation or cracking is positively avoided.

The modified rosin product the rosin molecule retains almost asmany carin the rosin is of importance and appropriate control of temperature and time both contribute to bringing aboutv such thorough dispersion. Agitation may be used as an aid to securing thorough dispersion.y Usually not more than a few hours treatment on temperature will be found sumicient, for instance, from about lone hour to about nve hours, although in some cases the reaction proceeds very rapidly, requiring not more than about one half hour.

Another important consideration is that the vreaction is desirably carried out in the absence of air, or out oi contact with any 'substantial quantity of air. For this purpose thev reaction -may be carried out in a closed vessel, though not necessarily at a positive pressure, so that the gases or fumes of the reaction released from the modifying agent serve to exclude the air.

' Vacuum is also effective for the purpose of excluding air. and in addition, reduction'ln coni tact of air may be brought about by blanketing Ythe surface of the` reaction mixture with Vsome inert gas, such as SO2, CO2, or'nitrogen. Where "vacuum is used, 'a pressure, for instance, of about v ioomms. Hg to about 45o mms. Hg win be mund4 bon atoms as are present in the initial basic constituents of the rosin, the number of carbon atoms being reduced only by that number involved in the decarboxylation. Still further, the types of constituents of the modified rosin are very'few in I number, probably not more than two or three,

and these constituents are characterized by boiling points all lying within a narrow and relatively high temperature range, as can be demonstrated by subsequent distillation of themodiiied products. The modified products, for practical purposes, are non-volatile when exposed tothe air. It is of importance in securing various of the foregoing characteristics that the reaction take place without any appreciable concurrent distillation. c In addition, the absence of air and/ory control -of temperaturel are important in avoiding destructive distillation.

Whateverthe exact nature ofthe chemical, colloidal and/or physical changes which are' brought about, in general the treatment provided Vin accordance with the present invention reduces effective, although higher or lower may be used.

Whatever means or procedure is employed, it is of advantage to so conduct the process as to reduce oxygen concentration in the reaction vessel and prevent entrance oi! fresh air or oxygen to the reaction mixture.

Some more or less general considerations regarding t process should be noted, as follows: Althoug the complete mechanism of modiilcation may not be fully understood, it mayv be mentioned that rosin is an organic isocolloid, i. e., a colloidal system in which the dispersed phase tmcv the dispersion medium are both or the same 5 chemical compositions, though present in different physical states.

By -modiflcationI believe that the relationship or relative proportions ofthe dispersed phase and dispersion mediummay be altered. Moreover, the modiiication process apparently also involves the acidvalue of the modified product and also softensor liquefles the material. These changes, together with others which usually take place, such asfimparting drying characteristics to the rosin, and improving film forming properties of the modified products as compared with untreated `rosin in the absence of other vehicle solids, for instance, make possible or practicable use 'of my modied rosin products for manyvpurposes for which rosin in its natural state is not suited. or atleast not welladaptable, and for which many known rosin derivatives are likewise not satisdecarhoxylatlon, the extent or winch is usuauy incomplete.

- 4sibly also non-volatile aggregates or polymers are formed.

Some of the foregoing effects or reactions (particultny with 'respect to the pnysicai consistency of. the modified product and/or the acid value) may work in one direction and others in the opposite direction. For example, the end melting point lxnayfbe-the diii'erential result ofsthe liquefying v"ation'oit the modifying agentand of one or more f' other effects, for instance, aggregationor polymerizatio, which usually tendy to raise the melt-V factory.'

By appropriate dand treatment conditions, such as temperature, time, vacuum, etc.. I am enabled to control various physical properties of the modified product, and notably the acid value, saponication value and physical consistency. In general the most valuable modified products have, for instance, a saponiiication value not exceeding 120.

iEkAllLlBv In a table given herebelow, there are reproduced the results of some comparative experiments which were conducted under the same conditions, except for certain designated changes whichserve to illustrate differences inproperties which may be secured by'variationsin process. In all cases the experiments o f this comparative series employed 5% of the organic halogen compound and in all^cases the treatment was conducted on WW wood rosin (Newport Industries), 1,000 of the rosin 'being heated in athreel liter distilling flask, under a pressure 0f about 400 mms. Bg. The treannent period was 5' is quite unique, since selection of modifying agent in its initial untreated state.

B-Blank experiment carried out under all of conditions applied to the other experiments, except that no treating agent was employed durhours.v The treatment temperature was about 290"` C.y and was maintained fairly close to that figure throughoutthe 5 hour treatment period (usually within' 10 C. plus or minus).

ployedmay be such the reaction will serve to eectlvely excludeair, without, applying vacuum'. f Furthermore, certain gases, such as S02, CO: or can-beeltber All temperatures are given in degrees centi- 5 bubbled through the unemployedgrade.- y as a blanket on the .o fnthebatch imdere I Tab'leofcomparativeezperimenta Enno. Arent 4 mldd'- Mtiitemtrteetimeeia f` rangs, v$211121tlnlnoieniftetmiinttidt. esta thraquinone Y .f zzatrieibutynuei im: De. Pentachlicl ropentano y 111.'s veryuliglitiyplastic.-

41% Pneumonia sai rmiemhvyiiqnid. w wi t im t imo nrittiemiid. B ems-Malti? ma e im Do.

The designations under the Consisteney"'-colA umn may be further'explained and am'pled as follows:

Solid =consistency harder than that on which an impression can be made withthe linger nail.

Slightly plastic=consistency such that an impression can be made with the nger nail, sometimes also displaying some degree of cold flow. Plastic=consistency such that the material may with ease be deformed with the finger and mani-` testing free cold ow" characteristics.

Liquid=consistency ranging from that of "plastic defined just above, to that of an oil, such as a three-hour kettle bodied linseed oil, the viscosity sometimes being down as far as about M on' the Gardner scale-or even somewhat lower.-

At the bottom of the table above, the two exgeing treatment. Expediente or this type net only serve to exclude the air from the but may also be utilized for supplemental' eil'ect amples lettered A and B indicatethe. following: v

'A-The same WW wood rosin as used in all of the other-experiments, so as to indicate the acid value, melting point and consistency of this rosin ing the heating.

In determining melting point, the mercury. method was used'. No melting point determinations were madefon "plastic" or softer products Abecause of the impracticability of securing accurate results.

The inclusion of items `A and B in the above table will facilitate analysis of the effects secured closed with agents disclosed in other of my appliby employment of various diiferentjmodifying agents. The blank experiment'B should becompared with various of the numbered experiments conducted, at 290 C.

Certain of the agents mentioned above are particularly eiectivein liquefying rosin, for instance, iodofonn, tetrabromouorescein (eosin) and tetrachlororesorcinol.

In general, the modifying agents of the present application are advantageous fromthe standpoint of the color of the products produced. of the products are of quite light color, and theresuch as in varnishes.

the treatment periody'other procedure may be adopted with a view to excluding air from the reaction.v The Most on the material beingtreated, this subject being more fully-considered in niy copending applica- 'f tion serial No. 318.650,' nled February 12, 1940,A oi which the present application isA a tion-in-part.y It is here further noted that. certain features herein disclosed are also Ydisclosed in-niy prior Urs; applications serial' No'. 388,371,

-med Api-i1 1, 1941'v (new Patent No. 2,311,200)

and Serial No. 359,425 (now Patent N0.'2,213,944)

Moreover, as disclosed in the above mentioned copending` applications, still. other variations in process made be employed for' a number of difpurpose. In' passing, however, it is noted that additional treating agents, Aof a supplemental character, may also be present during the reaction, among which might be mentionedA dissolution promoting agents oi' the type disclosed in my issued Patent No. 2,293,038. Various combinations oi' modifying agents may also be used for different purposes, including combinations of the modifying agents above disclosed, as well as ccm--l binations of'v the modifying agents herein discations mentioned above as well-as hereinafter.

\ It is furtherto. be noted'that in vgeneral increasing any oneor all of the variables; namely, temperature, timev of treatment and percentage of modifying agent, increases the extent of modiilcation. It will be understoodthat the foregoing is ageneral rule normally applicable within the Aranges of operation above indicated, although, as to atleast some variables, there maybe limits beyondwhich the general rule does not apply.

For instance, excessive increase in temperature may substantially alter the character of theprocess, as by destructively distilling the product.

In considering the starting material on which I the process may be employed, it is iirst noted form of the reaction vessel em- Il that the process brings about changes both of a colloidal and also of a chemical nature. It is important, however, to bear in mind that the process essentially involves a reaction with them molecule, that is, with the type of molecules o f which the basic constituents of natural rosin are composed. Therefore, while rosin itself, such as gum or wood rosins, representa perhaps themost at lower temperatures, for instance, 'at room important starting material to which the process is adaptable, it is noted that the process may be employed on rosin whichhas been pretreated in various ways. or on mixed orchemically con-v densed materials incorporating rosin, since the reaction will take place wherever the rosin'molecule is present provided, of course, that the physical or chemical state of environment" oi' the rosin molecule is not such as to prevent the reaction fromtaking place. It may also be mentioned that there are other natural resins, such as copals, which act similarly to rosin by'treatment in accordance with this invention. In fact, the reaction may be carried out on any oi' the natural resins containing high molecular resin acids. Therefore, wherever any such other vnatural resins behaves similarly to rosin, itis herein considered as an equivalent. Copals are fossil gums which have to be "fusedf before becoming soluble lin organic solvents and miscible with fatty oiL When copals are used f secured in accordance with the foregoing. may be` vulcanized as such, or in solutions, such as varnishy solutions (in the latter case with sulphur' chloride).

Further, they maybe converted into emulsions and used for various purposes in that form- In the event sulphur or other sulphur-like vulcanizing agents amused, vulcanization, for certain mirpo'ses, is desirably carried out at tem'- 0.5% to 10% of tetrahioro, resorcinol, and dis temperature, sulphur chloride, or similarly actment is especially practical.

As is mentioned in my copending application Serial No. 386,371, led April 1, 1941, the modied rosin products may be subject to still other supplemental treatments, such for 'instance as esteriiication, as by treating with glycerine or other polyhydric alcohols, such as glycols, pen;

taerythritol, mannitol, sorbitol, etc.

The vulcanized liqueed resin products'made in accordance with the invention have valuable properties for a number of purposes including the making of protective coatings, some of theservulcanized products being useful as plasticizers for coating compositionsand plastics.

I claim: A process for making a modied and softened rosin product from hard and brittle rosin, whichprocess comprises dispersing in the. rosin from solvingsaid 4compound in and reacting said compound with the rosin by heating the mixture'out pei-saires between about 12o' c. and 200 c. For l .purposes where vulcaniaation is to be elected .cxarrrrcs n c'onmzcrroli.`

of contact withfthe atmosphere between about 200 C. and 350 C., butnot above the temperature at which appreciable destructive distillation occurs under'the conditions of the treat' ment, the heating being continued until the resultant mixture has reduced acid value andmelting'point as compared with the acid value and ditions but without a decarboxylation 'promoting July 10,

- nieuwe Patent snoamtfgndwith misporreotioamereiamt the .slaernay conte-'inn to iris` moord-of the casein .tho ;Patent office.

signada@ use :area51-a myv oroctpbefr, s, i:o.v Misa sam Leslie Frazervv First A ssistantvlaissioner of latentp.

at lower temperatures, for instance, 'at room important starting material to which the process is adaptable, it is noted that the process may be employed on rosin whichhas been pretreated in various ways. or on mixed orchemically con-v densed materials incorporating rosin, since the reaction will take place wherever the rosin'molecule is present provided, of course, that the physical or chemical state of environment" oi' the rosin molecule is not such as to prevent the reaction fromtaking place. It may also be mentioned that there are other natural resins, such as copals, which act similarly to rosin by'treatment in accordance with this invention. In fact, the reaction may be carried out on any oi' the natural resins containing high molecular resin acids. Therefore, wherever any such other vnatural resins behaves similarly to rosin, itis herein considered as an equivalent. Copals are fossil gums which have to be "fusedf before becoming soluble lin organic solvents and miscible with fatty oiL When copals are used f secured in accordance with the foregoing. may be` vulcanized as such, or in solutions, such as varnishy solutions (in the latter case with sulphur' chloride).

Further, they maybe converted into emulsions and used for various purposes in that form- In the event sulphur or other sulphur-like vulcanizing agents amused, vulcanization, for certain mirpo'ses, is desirably carried out at tem'- 0.5% to 10% of tetrahioro, resorcinol, and dis temperature, sulphur chloride, or similarly actment is especially practical.

As is mentioned in my copending application Serial No. 386,371, led April 1, 1941, the modied rosin products may be subject to still other supplemental treatments, such for 'instance as esteriiication, as by treating with glycerine or other polyhydric alcohols, such as glycols, pen;

taerythritol, mannitol, sorbitol, etc.

The vulcanized liqueed resin products'made in accordance with the invention have valuable properties for a number of purposes including the making of protective coatings, some of theservulcanized products being useful as plasticizers for coating compositionsand plastics.

I claim: A process for making a modied and softened rosin product from hard and brittle rosin, whichprocess comprises dispersing in the. rosin from solvingsaid 4compound in and reacting said compound with the rosin by heating the mixture'out pei-saires between about 12o' c. and 200 c. For l .purposes where vulcaniaation is to be elected .cxarrrrcs n c'onmzcrroli.`

of contact withfthe atmosphere between about 200 C. and 350 C., butnot above the temperature at which appreciable destructive distillation occurs under'the conditions of the treat' ment, the heating being continued until the resultant mixture has reduced acid value andmelting'point as compared with the acid value and ditions but without a decarboxylation 'promoting July 10,

- nieuwe Patent snoamtfgndwith misporreotioamereiamt the .slaernay conte-'inn to iris` moord-of the casein .tho ;Patent office.

signada@ use :area51-a myv oroctpbefr, s, i:o.v Misa sam Leslie Frazervv First A ssistantvlaissioner of latentp. 

